‘The Journey Down’ by Wodehouse: Summary, meanings, Question and Answers Class 6 English Wind Chimes

This article consists of Question and Answers of the “The Journey Down” (Novel ‘Mike; 2nd chapter) Lesson given in English textbook ‘Wind Chimes’. The Notes Section include Summary in English and Hindi, and Vocabulary Notes (Word meanings).

Notes: The Journey Down by Wodehouse

Summary in English:

“The Journey Down” by P.G. Wodehouse is a humorous short story about a young boy named Mike Jackson who is traveling to a new school. He is excited about the journey and is lost in his thoughts about his future at the school, imagining what it will be like. On the train, Mike meets a boy, who is much older than him, and who seems arrogant and mysterious. Mike mistakenly throws the boy’s bag out of the window, thinking he had gotten off the train, only to realize later that the boy was still aboard. Mike feels guilty but is relieved when his brother Bob arrives and they are able to handle the situation. The story ends with a funny twist, showing Mike’s innocent mistake and the humorous misunderstanding that follows.

Summary in Hindi:

“The Journey Down” P.G. Wodehouse की एक हास्यपूर्ण कहानी है, जिसमें एक युवा लड़का माइक जैक्सन अपनी नई स्कूल यात्रा के लिए जा रहा है। वह यात्रा के बारे में उत्साहित है और स्कूल में अपने भविष्य के बारे में सोचते हुए खो जाता है। ट्रेन में, माइक एक लड़के से मिलता है, जो उससे काफी बड़ा और घमंडी सा प्रतीत होता है। माइक गलती से उस लड़के का बैग खिड़की से बाहर फेंक देता है, यह सोचते हुए कि वह उतर चुका है, लेकिन बाद में उसे एहसास होता है कि लड़का अभी भी ट्रेन में था। माइक को पछतावा होता है, लेकिन जब उसका भाई बॉब आता है, तो वे स्थिति को संभाल लेते हैं। कहानी एक मजेदार मोड़ के साथ खत्म होती है, जिसमें माइक की मासूम गलती और उसके बाद हुई हास्यपूर्ण गलतफहमी को दिखाया गया है।

Vocabulary Notes: (Word Meanings)

Textbook Questions and Answers (The Journey Down)

Comprehension:

A. Answer these questions.

1. Where was Bob and where would he join Mike?
   Ans: Bob was spending the last week of the holidays with an aunt further down the line. He would join Mike at East Wobsley station.
2. What does the boy’s conversation with the porter indicate about the boy?
   Ans: The boy’s conversation with the porter shows that he was very particular about his belongings and perhaps a bit arrogant, as he spoke in a commanding tone.
3. Mike acted from the best motives, which is always fatal. Was the consequence really fatal?
   Ans: No, the consequence was not truly fatal. It was embarrassing and inconvenient for the boy because his bag was thrown out at the wrong station, but it was not a serious disaster.
4. Why did the boy get off the carriage?
   Ans: The boy got off the carriage to buy a magazine at a station.
5. What is Wain’s?
   Ans: Wain’s is the house at Wrykyn school where Mike was going to stay.
6. Who were Gazeka and Firby-Smith?
   Ans: Gazeka was the nickname for Firby-Smith. He was the head of Wain’s house at Wrykyn school.
7. At what point was Mike not a part of the conversation and why?
   Ans: Mike was not a part of the conversation when Bob and Firby-Smith started discussing school politics and events from the previous term, which Mike did not know about.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1. That explained his magazineless condition.

a. Who is being talked about here?
Ans: The boy with the pince-nez (Firby-Smith) is being talked about.

b. What became clear?
Ans: It became clear that the boy did not have any magazines because he was only traveling a short distance and did not need them.

c. What is the ‘magazineless condition’?
Ans: The ‘magazineless condition’ refers to the fact that the boy had no magazines to read during his short journey.

2. Then he sat down again with the inward glow of satisfaction which comes to one when one has risen successfully to a sudden emergency.

a. Whose condition is being described here?
Ans: Mike’s condition is being described here.

b. Why was the person feeling the ‘inward glow of satisfaction’?
Ans: Mike felt satisfied because he thought he had acted quickly and responsibly by throwing the forgotten bag out of the train for the boy to retrieve.

c. How did he rise up to the ‘sudden emergency’?
Ans: He quickly noticed the boy had forgotten his bag and immediately threw it out of the window, assuming the boy would get it back.

3. Against his will, Mike grinned at the recollection.

a. Why did Mike grin?
Ans: Mike grinned because he remembered how the porter looked when the bag hit him on the back, which seemed funny to him.

b. Why was it against his will?
Ans: It was against his will because he knew the situation was serious and not the right time to laugh.

c. What was the reaction of the other person?
Ans: The other person (Firby-Smith) was angry and scolded Mike for finding humour in the situation, calling him a “little beast.”

Vocabulary:

A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbal phrases.

1. ………. there’s a car coming.
2. The refugees had to …….. a lot of precious belongings.
3. I had to give away the …….. food.
4. …….. in the garden for leaves of different shapes.
5. …….. to my house, we can play some games.
6. While cleaning the cupboards, I ……. to my grandmother. a diary which belonged

Answer:

1. Look out, there’s a car coming.
2. The refugees had to leave behind a lot of precious belongings.
3. I had to give away the left over food.
4. Look around in the garden for leaves of different shapes.
5. Come over to my house, we can play some games.
6. While cleaning the cupboards, I came across a diary which belonged to my grandmother.

Grammar

A. Fill in the blanks with coordinating conjunctions.

1. Will you eat that last pastry, …….. will you leave it for me?
2. Sadyah collected the biggest amount for charity, …….. she got a medal.
3. Tenzing had a terrible headache, …….. he went to work in the morning.
4. It’s snowing,…….. please wear your overcoat.
5. He has done his duty, …….. he is a sincere man.
6. Namrata overslept …….. thus missed the train again

Answer:

1. Will you eat that last pastry, or will you leave it for me?
2. Sadyah collected the biggest amount for charity, so she got a medal.
3. Tenzing had a terrible headache, but he went to work in the morning.
4. It’s snowing, so please wear your overcoat.
5. He has done his duty, and he is a sincere man.
6. Namrata overslept and thus missed the train again.

B. Use each of the correlative conjunctions in sentences of your own.

This is a simple recipe for cooking oats. Notice the highlighted words.

• Firstly, mix 1½ a teaspoon of salt in 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
• Then, add in 1 cup of oats and turn the heat to low.
• After this, cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  Once the mixture looks thick, take it off the heat.
• Finally, serve with honey, milk and chopped nuts.
  All the highlighted words here indicate the sequence of action. Similarly, there are words and phrases we use to express the relationship between different ideas in a sentence. Such words and phrases are called linkers.

Answer: Here’s the recipe for cooking oats in a proper sequence:

1. Firstly, mix 1½ teaspoons of salt into 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
2. Then, add 1 cup of oats and reduce the heat to low.
3. After this, cover the pot and cook the oats for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once the mixture thickens, take it off the heat.
5. Finally, serve the oats with honey, milk, and chopped nuts.

Examples to show associated Linkers.

1. Both … and: Both oats and nuts make a healthy breakfast.
2. Either … or: You can either add honey or sugar to your oats.
3. Neither … nor: Neither the oats nor the nuts should be overcooked.
4. Not only … but also: Not only are oats nutritious, but they also taste delicious with milk.
5. Whether … or: Whether you serve it with fruits or nuts, oats are always healthy.
6. As … as: The oats should be as thick as a porridge before serving.

C. Fill in the blanks with the correct linkers from the options provided.

1. Jyoti promised to look after Shahid’s cat …….. (so that/while) he was on holiday.
2. He decided to buy a car ……. (in spite of/although) having lost his job.
3. …….. (In spite/Despite) it being cold outside, they went ahead with the picnic.
4. Harendra’s mother waited on the platform …….. (until/before) the train had disappeared into the distance.
5. I have to get this assignment in …….. (until/by) the end of the week.
6. …….. (Since/All in all), it was a good experience.
7. Mohun Bagan was the best team and …….. (furthermore/ likewise), they were the fairest too.
8. Ramona will not join the event ……….. (due to/unless) the organisers donate to charity.

Answers:

1. Jyoti promised to look after Shahid’s cat while he was on holiday.
2. He decided to buy a car in spite of having lost his job.
3. Despite it being cold outside, they went ahead with the picnic.
4. Harendra’s mother waited on the platform until the train had disappeared into the distance.
5. I have to get this assignment in by the end of the week.
6. All in all, it was a good experience.
7. Mohun Bagan was the best team and furthermore, they were the fairest too.
8. Ramona will not join the event unless the organisers donate to charity.

D. Complete these sentences with in, on or at. For each use, mention if they are acting as prepositions of time (T) or place (P).

1. My cousin lives ………. New York.
2. Please put these books ………. the table.
3. This is an old film, it was made ……….1958.
4. I am ………. the theatre.
5. The meeting is ………. principal’s office. ………. 3 p.m. the
6. The yoga class will be held ………. Holi evening.
7. You always come late. Please be …….time today.
8. My friend lives ………. the end of Park Lane. Sector 3.

Answer:

1. My cousin lives in New York. (P)
2. Please put these books on the table. (P)
3. This is an old film, it was made in 1958. (T)
4. I am at the theatre. (P)
5. The meeting is in the principal’s office at 3 p.m. (P for place, T for time)
6. The yoga class will be held on Holi evening. (T)
7. You always come late. Please be on time today. (T)
8. My friend lives at the end of Park Lane. (P)

Writing

Diaries are a wonderful way to let out pent up emotions, record dreams or ideas, and reflect on daily life. They are not just records of what happened in the course of a period of time. They contain reflections, thoughts and feelings about what happened in that space of time.

There is no single, definitive way to maintain a diary, although there are some very popular conventions. Most people name their diaries because it makes the exercise feel more intimate. Entries are also usually dated.

A. Imagine that Firby-Smith writes about Mike in his diary after spending a few days with him at Wrykyn. Write the diary entry in about 200 words.

Answer: Some sample Diary Entries are given here.